Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: an experience in Chinese adults in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiologic studies in Caucasian populations suggested that symptomatic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurred at a prevalence of 1-10%. The condition has been increasingly recognised among the Chinese in Hong Kong. We therefore, summarize our experience with OSA at the Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong at Queen Mary Hospital from 1985-1996. METHODS: All clinic records concerning demographic data, anthropometric data, clinical features, polysomnographic findings and treatment were reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-two patients were diagnosed to have OSA. Demographic and clinical features were similar to Caucasian data with a male predominance of 84%, a mean age of about 50 years, and obesity as a risk factor at a mean body mass index of 30.4, which was higher than that of the average local population, although lower than that of OSA patients in Caucasian series. About 27% of the patients have a body mass index (BMI) similar to or below the population average. Nearly all were habitual snorers, and the majority had excessive daytime sleepiness. On polysomnography, the mean apnea-hypopnea index was 38. Common associated medical conditions were hypertension (34%), diabetes mellitus (10%), ischemic heart disease (9%), hyperlipidemia (6%). Most patients were managed successfully with nasal continuous positive airway pressure. Treatment with oral appliances for milder cases is being explored. CONCLUSIONS: OSA has been increasingly recognised among Chinese adults in Hong Kong in the past decade. Demographic features were similar to Caucasian data. The majority of patients were overweight, although 27% were not, and further investigation on the contribution of faciomaxillary morphology to OSA in this group is warranted.     

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in CHILD syndrome

Congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform naevus and limb defects (CHILD) syndrome is a rare X-linked dominant disorder. The first case of squamous cell carcinoma arising within the affected ichthyosiform skin in a 33-year-old woman is reported.     

苦红菇化学成分的研究

从野生真菌苦红菇(Russula rosacea(Bull)Grrayem,Fr.)子实体酸性部分得到两个新的四环三萜酸化合物,经光谱(IR,¹HNMR,¹³CNMR,MS)、尤其是二维核磁共振(¹³C-¹HCOSY,COLOC,NOEDIFF)谱解析,确定其结构分别如Ⅰ和Ⅱ所示,Ⅰ命名为苦红菇酸A(rosaceaacidA),Ⅱ为苦红菇酸B(rosaceaacidB)。     

Plasma carotenoids as biomarkers of intake of fruits and vegetables: individual-level correlations in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)

OBJECTIVE: The aim in this study was to assess the association between individual plasma carotenoid levels (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin) and fruit and vegetable intakes recorded by a calibrated food questionnaire (FQ) and 24-h dietary recall records (24HDR) in nine different European countries with diverse populations and widely varying intakes of plant foods. DESIGN: A stratified random subsample of 3089 men and women from nine countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), who had provided blood samples and dietary and other lifestyle information between 1992 and 2000, were included. RESULTS: beta-Cryptoxanthin was most strongly correlated with total fruits (FQ r = 0.52, 24HDR r = 0.39), lycopene with tomato and tomato products (FQ r = 0.38, 24HDR r = 0.25), and alpha-carotene with intake of root vegetables (r = 0.39) and of total carrots (r = 0.38) for FQ only. Based on diet measured by FQ and adjusting for possible confounding by body mass index (BMI), age, gender, smoking status, alcohol intake, and energy intake, the strongest predictors of individual plasma carotenoid levels were fruits (R(partial)(2) = 17.2%) for beta-cryptoxanthin, total carrots ((partial)(2) = 13.4%) and root vegetables (R(partial)(2) = 13.3%) for alpha-carotene, and tomato products (R(partial)(2) = 13.8%) for lycopene. For 24HDR, the highest R(partial)(2) was for fruits in relation to beta-cryptoxanthin (7.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Intakes of specific fruits and vegetables as measured by food questionnaires are good predictors of certain individual plasma carotenoid levels in our multicentre European study. At individual subject levels, FQ measurements of fruits, root vegetables and carrots, and tomato products are, respectively, good predictors of beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha-carotene, and lycopene in plasma.     

Curcumin for the Prevention of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Endoxifen-Treated MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Background: Curcumin was shown to reduce epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in previous shortterm studies. This study was aimed to investigate the potential of curcumin in the prevention of EMT activation inMCF-7 cells induced by endoxifen. Methods: MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with Endoxifen 1000 nM+betaestradiol1 nM with or without curcumin (8.5μM or 17 μM). Cells treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 0.001%were used as negative control. After 8 weeks of continuous treatment, the cells were counted, analyzed for mRNAE-cadherin, vimentin, TGF-β expression, total reactive oxygen species (ROS) and observed for morphological changesusing confocal microscope and transmission electron microscope. Result: MCF-7 cell viability was increased inendoxifen + β-estradiol group. Cell viability was significantly decreased in curcumin 17 μM, but not in curcumin8.5 μM group. Analysis of EMT markers at week 8 indicates that there were increase in vimentin and TGF-β mRNAexpressions, while E-cadherin mRNA expressions and TGF-β1 protein concentrations were shown to decrease. Theresults showed that administration of curcumin in all the dose administered were incapable improving the expressionsof vimentin, TGF-β1 and E-cadherin. There was a decrease in ROS concentration in curcumin treated cells (8.5 μM)while in curcumin 17 μM, ROS concentration was increased. Morphological observation using confocal microscopeand TEM showed the presence of mesenchymal cells and adherens junction. Conclusion: endoxifen treatments foreight weeks resulted in upregulation of EMT markers and changes in morphology of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Theaddition of curcumin did not prevent the activation of EMT.     

Natural compounds containing mouthrinses in the management of dental plaque and gingivitis: a systematic review

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of natural compounds containing mouthrinse (NCCM) as an adjunct to unsupervised oral hygiene in the management of dental plaque and gingivitis.

Materials and methods

An electronic search for clinical studies of NCCMs was conducted in Medline-PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and EMBASE for a period spanning from the earliest available date in each database up to February 2013. Plaque index, gingival index, and gingival bleeding index were selected as primary outcomes. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed according to the “Levels of Evidence” outlined by the Center of Evidence-Based Medicine, and to the Jadad scale.

Results

The screen yielded 2,236 titles and abstracts that met the inclusion criteria. These identified 11 clinical trials testing 13 different NCCMs, and were used for data extraction. Heterogeneity and the limited number of studies on any individual NCCM precluded a formal meta-analysis. Of the 13 NCCMs tested, eight demonstrated positive results, and few reported any adverse effects or events.

Conclusions

Evidence proving the effectiveness of NCCM as an adjunct to unsupervised oral hygiene for plaque and gingivitis control is still insufficient. However, some natural products (compounds) may have oral health benefits, so further high-quality study is warranted.

Clinical relevance

This review provides an overview of the strength of clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of natural compounds containing mouthrinses in promoting gingival health.